Former House Speaker New Gingrich (R-GA) said Sunday that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will likely fade into a crowd of other Republican governors in the years to come and won't become the leader of the Republican party.

“I think that she is going to be a significant player,” Gingrich said during CBS's 'Face the Nation.' “But she’s going to be one of 20 or 30 significant players. She’s not going to be the de facto leader.”

“She’s going to be a much bigger story in the short run,” Gingrich added. “But, I think, as she goes back to being governor and as she works in Alaska, you’re going to see a group of governors emerge, not just Sarah Palin.”

Palin refused to rule out a run for president in 2012 in a recent interview with Wolf Blitzer on Sunday.